Vancouver's version of the Sydney Opera House, judging by the number of postcards it appears on, this iconic landmark is shaped like sails jutting into the sky over the harbor. Both a cruise-ship terminal and convention center (next door's grass-roofed West Building convention center expansion opened in 2010), it's also a pier, providing camera-worthy views of the North Shore mountains and some busy floatplane action.
Inside and outside the building, there are reminders of Canada's past, from temporary interactive exhibitions to a display in winter of vintage department store Christmas windows. At the time of research, a new movie screen attraction called Fly Over Canada was also gearing up to open inside the building. Check the website (www.flyovercanada.com) to see if they're up and running for your visit.
